Sterilizable camera casing and focusing means for surgical photography



Jan. 9, 1951 c. A. COBB, JRQ, ET AL 2,537,303

STERILIZABLE CAMERA CASING AND FOCUSING MEANS FOR SURGICAL PHOTOGRAPHYFiled Dec. 22, 1945 Patented Jan. 9, 1951 STERILIZABLE CAMERA oAslNo.AND FOL CUSING MEANS FOR. SURGICAL rno'roo- RAPHY Cully Alton Cobb, Jr.,and Franc Douglas Ingraham, Brookline, Mass; 'assignors to The ChildrensHospital, a corporation of Massachusetts Application December 22, 1945,Serial No. 636,850

r 1. This invention relates to surgical photography and provides anapparatus and method by which a camera may be brought into the zone of asurgical operation and pictures of the operation taken at close rangewithout danger of infecting the patient.

In surgery it is necessary to take the utmost precaution that any objectbrought into the zone of an operation be sterilized on all exposedsurfacesotherwise, there is serious danger that germswould be broughtinto the zone by the ob,.

ject and infect the wound. Since a camera is by nature a delicateinstrument which cannot be effectively sterilized, photographing ofoperations at adequately close range has been prohibited by the riskthat would be entailed in bringinga camera into the operating zone, andI the benefits that would result from such a photographic record havebeen thus denied to the medical profession.

Our invention provides apparatus and method by which an unsterilizedcamera can be brought into the zone of -a surgical operationand'photographs made therewith at. close range without danger ofcontaminating the zone or infecting the patient.

The apparatus of the invention comprises a portable casing or housing inwhich a camera may be removably mounted and which may then be tightlysealed about thecamera. The casing is provided with a transparentwindow, in line with the camera lens, through which th picture is taken,and with means for focusing'and operating the camera. The casing is soconstructed as to be subject to sterilization, in the usual auto claveor in any convenient manner.

In practicing the method of the invention, the casing, aftersterilization, is opened to receive the camera, the camera is mountedtherein, and the casing is closed and sealed. This is accomplishedoutside the surgery zone without con-1 tacting the camera, which maybecontaminated,

with any exterior surface of the casing and while the casing iscontacted and manipulated only by sterile surfaces. Thus, the casing maybe held and manipulated by one individual whose hands, garments, etc.have been rendered sterile as in preparation for operation attendanceand the camera may be placed and mounted therein by a second individualwho is careful not to touch the exterior of the casing and so, possibly,to con-.

taminate it in consequence of handling the nonsterile camera. The casingwith contained camera then carried into the operation zone on a sterilecarrier or by sterile hands and the camera.

3 Claims. (Cl. 95-11) is there operated to take the desired photographswhile sealed within the sterile casing. The cam- I era remains sealedwithin the casing throughout" the timerit is in the operating zone andis withf 11 drawn from the casing outside that zone for replenishment ofthe film supply and re-steriliza- I tion of the casing. Our inventionwill be further described with,

reference to the preferred forms of apparatus of the inventionillustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: I

Fig. 1 is a plan viewof one form of apparatus with the casing opened toreceive a camera;

Fig. 2 is a partial vertical section, partial side elevation view of theapparatus of Fig. 1 with the camera mounted and'casing closed;

Fig. 3 is an exploded detail of a portion ofthe apparatus of Figs. 1 and2; and

Figs. 4 and 5 are, respectively, side elevation and plan views of amodified form of apparatus. Referring to the accompanying drawings, theembodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to'3 has a camera supporting basemember l0 provided at the front end with an upstanding frame l2apertured centrally at 14. The rearward end of base member ID hasthreaded therethrough a wing bolt [6,

thethreaded end of which projects above the upper surface of the baseand is received in a threaded opening l8 provided in the box or frame ofa camera 20 to position and retain the camera j on the base against araised rib I I on the rear end of the base, with the lens opening of thecamera in line with aperture [4 in frame l2. In this form of theapparatus, the casing is a bag 22 of flexiblematerial such as canvas orother closely'woven cloth, one end of which is-f fastened to frame [2 ofbase It. As shown, bag

22 is removably fastened to frame [2 by means of screws 24 projectingforwardly from frame 12 and received through grommets 26 provided in thebag- Between the grommets 26, the bag is cut away at 28 to provide anopening co-exten. sive and registering with the opening M of frame l2. Asheet of glass or other transparent mate'- rial 30 is clamped overtheopening 28 by means of a frame member 32 having openings through whichthe screws 24 are received, frame 32 being pressed-against the bag andframe 12 by means 'screws 24 and bearing on the frame 32.

The opposite end of bag 22 is provided with a draw string 36 by whichthe material at that end of the bag may be gathered to form a tightclosure, as shown in Fig. 2, or opened up to substantially the fulldiameter of the bag to permit inof caps 34 screw threaded on the outerends of 3 sertion and withdrawal of the camera. The bag is of sufficientlength and diameter to enclose the entire frame and assembled camera asshown in Fig. 2.

The camera 20, indicated in Fig. 2, is of a conventional type in whichthe lens and shutter mechanisms are carried at the front of a col--lapsible support 38, the shutter lever being shown at 4|] operableagainst a stop 42. Exposure time adjustment is made by turning a notchededge ring 44 about the lens opening against" ascale visible from thefront of the camera; A portrait lens 46 is removably mounted at thefront of support 38. The camera. 20,.wh'en r'noun temon! base 10 againststop rib II by means of bolt l fi is" positioned with its lensesandshutter opening aligned with and centered on the-window formed by thealigned apertures in frames l2 and 32 and bag 22 and the transparentsheet clampedbetween them.

For operating. the shutter lever when the camera" is enclosed within thebag- 22', afinger socket 48 isprovided in the ba 22, this socketextending through-awire loop Eilprojectingrearwardly from frame l2beside the lever 40. Loop 50, holds thematerial ofthebag, away from theshutter lever to prevent accidental operation, while socket48permitaintended operationby a finger insertedtherein' to press the leverthrough the-flexible material of the socket.

Fixed approximately cent-rally to the under partof framewand-extendingforwardly thereof is a bar 52,. the bar asshow-n, curvingdownwardly betweenits ends. Bar 52- provides a focusing device for thecamera enclosed in the casing as will hereinafter be explained; Bar 52extends through an aperture in' the bag. 22 provided with an elasticedge 54 which engages tightly about the bar.

Thefform of casingapparatus may be utilized according. to the method ofthe invention for photography" in a sterile surgery zone as follows. Thecasing device without the camera as shown in Fig.1, is sterilized asa--unit', for-example, in an autoclave. The device is then removedfromthe sterilizer by a first person referred to as asterile person,.whotouches it only withsterile surfaces. The device is" held by thisperson with the bag ill drawnback to expose base ID, as shown-in Fig.1,. while a second person positionsthe camera- 20 on the base It) withthe rear surface of the camera bcx against rih H and with the openingl8-over1ying bolt N3,- and fastens the bolt l8 into the aperture 20.;This second person, referred; to as non-sterile be-' causeof-co'ntamination by contactwith the nonsterile camera,. is carefulneither to contact nor to permit-the camera to contact any part of thecasingdevic'e which is exposed when the bag, 22 is closed v Beforeapplication to the frame I othe camera is loadedwitl'ra film-whichisunrol'l'ed for successive exposuresby turning. a knob 56projectingfrom. one side of the came'rabox. adjustment mechanismoperated by knob 56 is preferably provided" with a locking means whichautomatically locks the mechanism againstadjustment when the film isproperly positioned for an exposure, the lock being releasable to permitadjust'ment-of'the film, to a new exposure by pressing a release pin 58"located beside the knob 56. The camera is also. adjusted prior toinsertion in the containing device to focus'propgames from the outer endof the focusing bar 52 to the focal point of the camera positioned inthe enclosure device.

When the camera has been fastened on the base 10, the bag 22 is drawnrearwardly over the base illand camera 20 by the sterile person, andclosed by means of the draw string 36. The camera is now enclosed withina casing, all exposed surfaces of which have been sterilized and havebeen contacted only with sterile surfaces. The device may therefore becarried into the surgery zone by a sterile person and there operatedwithout danger of infecting the zone.

In taking pictures; the device is held with the tip' of focusing bar 52approximately in the plane of the area to be photographed and at oneedge of the area, so that the area is aligned and approximately centeredwith the window of the device: The camera is thereby brought into properfocus upon the area, the focusing bar beingarranged just outside thefield of focus, and the camera is operated to take a picture thereof byinserting a iinger into the socket 48 and pressing lever 46 against;stop 42. For another exposure, pin 58 is pressed to release the lock andknob 56 is turned until it again locks, both these adjustments being.made through the flexible substance-of the bag. Theshutter mechanism maythen again be operated, and so on. If itis desired to change the timeexposure, this adiustment can also bemade on the contained camera bymanipulating ring 44 through the flexible substance of the bag,- thescale against which ring 44 operates being visible from the front of thecamera through the window at the front ofthe device.

Figs. 4 and 5- of the drawing illustrate amodified One side wall of thebox Gills hinged at 16' to the front wall of the box, to form adoorwliibh is opened outwardly by means of a handle 121cc expose theinterior of the box for insertion of'a camera therein. The floor of' thebox is providecl adjacent its rear edge with a key-way it which slidablyreceives a key T6 on the bottom edge of the box of the camera, this key,when fully'inserted in the keyway,.acting to hold the camera inproper'pos'ition.

one corner of the box is cut away and closed by a nap 1-8 offlexiblematerial forming a socketwhich extends down about the-film adju'stmentmeans 56, 58' ofth'e cameraand permits their adjustment by the fingersacting through its flexible substance The hinged side Wall ofthe box hasan openin near the front thereof which is close'dib'y. a flexible aspenextending inwardly'of' the wall and" forming. a fing'ersocke't',corresponding to the socket 48'of the device 0f Figs. to 3} which theshutt 'e'fl 'Vi" 40'may'be mani ulated. A s'imilarilcxible socket flapafisprovided n the top-Wal er the box" per mittin'g'adjiistment'tlie'rethlough 0f the time c)?- posure" control 44.

Fixed'cen'trally to the bottom Of'the box Gilaiid projecting forwardlythereof is a focusing bar84'; Bar 84 differs" from the bar 5101 thedevice of Figs. 1 to 3 in that its forward end is made hollOW to receiveslidably' a rod 36' which ma be telescoped intcbar' 84' and-is held inany'ext'ended' '5 position by means of a set screw '88. Rod 86 isprovided with a fractional inch or other linear measurement scale 90graduated rearwardly from the front end of the rod 50 that the scale maybe read against the end of bar 84 to show how far the bar extends beyondthe rod.

Before insertion in the box, the camera may be adjusted to focusproperly on an area spaced from its focal point a distance equal to thedisg tance therefrom, when the camera is positioned in the box, of thetip of rod 86 fully extended from bar 84. When it is possible to placethe I tip of rod 86 in the plane of the area to be photoa graphed, therod is maintained fully extended. If, however, the area to bephotographed is sunken with respect to the plane of the sur roundingarea which the rod contacts, as in photographing a deep incision, therod is telescoped into bar 84 by an amount, as indicated by scale 90,equal to the actual or estimated depth of the area to be photographedbelow the surrounding plane of contact of the rod. By this adjustment,when the rod is brought into contact with a surface beside the area tobe photographed, the camera is no longer focused for the plane of thatsurface but for the sunken plane of the area.

Rod 83 may also be employed in like manner to adjust the focus for areasraised with respect to the surrounding area of contact of the rod;

provided the camera is first focused for the plane of the tip of the rodin a telescoped position, by,

adjusting the rod outwardly from that position.

The use of the adjustable form of focusing, bar shown in Figs. 4 and isparticularly advis able for photographing the interior of incisions witha portrait lens, since such a lens has a focus range at any one settingof only about an inch toward and from the camera.

As in the case of the apparatus of Figs; 1 to 3, the device of Figs. 4and 5 is employed according to the method of the invention by firststerilizing the device Without the camera, then insert-' ing the cameratherein while the exterior of the device is contacted only by sterilesurfaces. Thus, the device may be held and the door opened and closed bya sterile person while the camera is inserted therein by a second personwithout contacting the outer surfaces of the device. The camera isoperated in the surgical zone in the manner described with reference tothe embodiment of Figs. 1 to 3, the flexible sockets affording means formanipulating the operating parts from the exterior of the device, thecontainer completely insulating the camera to prevent contamination ofthe operation zone thereby.

In case a camera is employed where vision, not afforded by the frontwindow, is requisite to proper adjustment or manipulation of the camerawithin the enclosure, sight windows may be provided at suitablepositions in the box or bag in either form of apparatus.

It will be understood that the specific embodiments of apparatus andpractice of the process of the invention hereinabove described are preferred only and that changes may be made therein within the spirit andscope of the invention.

We claim:

1. In a surgical photographic device comprising a camera and asterilizable casing for the camera having a window therein, the casingbeing arranged to be opened up to receive the camera in the interiorthereof and to be closed about the camera and including a support onwhich the camera is adapted to be removably mounted with the lensopening aligned with said window, a sterilizable focusing bar associatedwith said casing and extending forwardly of said Window, said barincluding a first portion adjacent the casing forming an obtuse anglewith a line drawn perpendicular to the principal axis of said window anda second portion in a plane substantially paralleling the plane of saidaxis, and a socket in said casing formed of a nexiole material throughwnicn the shutter-operating mechanism of the camera may be actuated.

2. A device according to claim 1 further characterized in that theportion of said sterilizable bar lying in a plane generally parallehngthe plane of the principal axis of said window has an extension pieceassociated therewith in slidable telescopic relation.

3. A device according to claim 1 in which the camera comprises film adustment means and the casing is provided with a second socket formed ofa flexible material through which said means are manipulated.

CULLY ALTON COBB, JR. FRANC DOUGLAS INGRAHAM.

\ file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,122,104 Gruen Dec. 22, 19141,535,312 Hosking Apr. 28, 1925 1,589,436 Seebold June 22,1926 1,701,315Sterick -1 Feb. 5, 1929 1,960,722 Alderman May 22, 1934 2,185,508 KunzeJan. 2, 1940 2,206,032 Foster July 2, 1940 2,239,379 Bucky Apr. 22, 19412,333,778 Green et a1 Nov. 9, 1943 2,403,892 McFarlane et a1 July 9,1946 2,431,825 Pollock Dec. 2, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date423,746 Germany J an. 8, 1926 OTHER REFERENCES Davis: UnderwaterPhotography, article in The Camera, February 1937, published inPhiladelphia, Pa.

